Teens arrested in baseball bat killing

Victim's body was found outside Western store

BY AUSTIN L. MILLERStar-Banner

Published: Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 7:25 a.m.

OCALA - Police have arrested two teens in the aluminum baseball bat beating death of a 44-year-old man that a prosecutor has described as "brutal" and committed "for entertainment or out of pure meanness."
James Roberts, 18, told the Star-Banner Saturday that he was defending William Anthony Myers, 16, and that he lashed out at Robert Towns Leigh because the man "was messing with my cousin."
Police, however, agree with the prosecutor, including Capt. Jim McGowan, who said, "This crime was an unprovoked, vicious attack on another human being .Ê.Ê."
Leigh's body was discovered Wednesday slumped over on a bench in front of the Western Roundup store, 3130 N.W. Blitchton Road.
Leigh, who had lived in Miami for two years, had called his brother and a friend to say he was headed for Tallahassee on Tuesday.
Police found identification and a cell phone on Leigh's body, which ruled out robbery as the motive. It is one of the reasons that Rock Hooker, an assistant state attorney, told the Star-Banner Saturday, "after a review of all the evidence, it appears the 18-year-old killed Robert Leigh either for entertainment or pure meanness."
Roberts had his first appearance Saturday in front of Circuit Court Judge Jack Singbush.
Standing in front of Singbush, Roberts seemed cold, distant and was stoned-faced when addressing the judge. Singbush ordered Roberts be held without bail.
Later, dressed in a red jail uniform and wearing shackles that bound his hands and feet, Roberts told the Star-Banner that he and his cousin were walking by the store sometime after 1 a.m. Wednesday, when Leigh grabbed Myers' shoulder from behind "for no reason." Roberts said he told Leigh to release Myers, but he refused. Roberts said he struck Leigh in the head with the bat two or three times.
"I just wanted him to get off my cousin," Roberts said.
Roberts said he and his cousin placed Leigh on the bench. "He was alive when we left," he said.
Asked why they did not call police, Roberts said, "I didn't think about that. I figured we will be sitting in the same situation as we're now."
Roberts said Myers had nothing to do with the beating. Roberts said he was taking Xanax and marijuana at the time. He said he smokes marijuana daily.
"I'm sorry, that's all I can say. I didn't mean to kill the man," said Roberts, when asked what he wanted to say to Leigh's family.
Investigators put their heads together to make the arrests late Friday night. Detective Anthony Reghetti told lead Detective Miguel A. Gauthier that he had dealt with Roberts in the past.
Investigators went to the cousins' home at 1367 N.W. 33rd Ave., which is behind the store. When they showed the teens Leigh's photo, Roberts said he looked familiar. The detectives took the two teens to the police station for questioning.
Myers told police that he and Roberts were walking near Western Roundup when they were startled by Leigh, who was sitting on the bench. Myers said Leigh told them to leave him alone. Instead, he said they went home where he grabbed a crowbar and Roberts grabbed a bat.
Myers said they went back to the store where Roberts hit Leigh "repeatedly with the bat." Myers said he had the crowbar in case Leigh was able to fend off Roberts. He said they went back home. Myers said he grabbed a pocket knife, and both went back to Western Roundup where he stabbed Leigh once. McGowan said Leigh's body did have a superficial wound on the left hip.
Myers said they returned home again, wrapped the knife in a bandana he was wearing and placed it in a safe inside the residence. The crowbar was placed under a bed in a bedroom, and the bat was buried in the woods not far from the home.
Detectives obtained a search warrant and the weapons were recovered.
Authorities said Roberts and Myers admitted to burglarizing several vehicles at Auto Sales, 3308 N.W. Blitchton Rd. on Nov. 27. Officials said several tires were flattened and a blunt object was used to smash windows.
Hooker said the type of weapon used to smash the car windows were similar to the injuries to Leigh's head.
In his interview with the Star-Banner, Roberts said he broke car windows at a car dealership nearby and stole blank compact discs. Even though he and his cousin were together, Myers said, he was the one responsible for smashing the car windows and stealing the items inside.
Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or 352-867-4118.

OCALA - Police have arrested two teens in the aluminum baseball bat beating death of a 44-year-old man that a prosecutor has described as "brutal" and committed "for entertainment or out of pure meanness."<BR>
James Roberts, 18, told the Star-Banner Saturday that he was defending William Anthony Myers, 16, and that he lashed out at Robert Towns Leigh because the man "was messing with my cousin."<BR>
Police, however, agree with the prosecutor, including Capt. Jim McGowan, who said, "This crime was an unprovoked, vicious attack on another human being .Ê.Ê."<BR>
Leigh's body was discovered Wednesday slumped over on a bench in front of the Western Roundup store, 3130 N.W. Blitchton Road.<BR>
Leigh, who had lived in Miami for two years, had called his brother and a friend to say he was headed for Tallahassee on Tuesday.<BR>
Police found identification and a cell phone on Leigh's body, which ruled out robbery as the motive. It is one of the reasons that Rock Hooker, an assistant state attorney, told the Star-Banner Saturday, "after a review of all the evidence, it appears the 18-year-old killed Robert Leigh either for entertainment or pure meanness."<BR>
Roberts had his first appearance Saturday in front of Circuit Court Judge Jack Singbush.<BR>
Standing in front of Singbush, Roberts seemed cold, distant and was stoned-faced when addressing the judge. Singbush ordered Roberts be held without bail.<BR>
Later, dressed in a red jail uniform and wearing shackles that bound his hands and feet, Roberts told the Star-Banner that he and his cousin were walking by the store sometime after 1 a.m. Wednesday, when Leigh grabbed Myers' shoulder from behind "for no reason." Roberts said he told Leigh to release Myers, but he refused. Roberts said he struck Leigh in the head with the bat two or three times.<BR>
"I just wanted him to get off my cousin," Roberts said.<BR>
Roberts said he and his cousin placed Leigh on the bench. "He was alive when we left," he said.<BR>
Asked why they did not call police, Roberts said, "I didn't think about that. I figured we will be sitting in the same situation as we're now."<BR>
Roberts said Myers had nothing to do with the beating. Roberts said he was taking Xanax and marijuana at the time. He said he smokes marijuana daily.<BR>
"I'm sorry, that's all I can say. I didn't mean to kill the man," said Roberts, when asked what he wanted to say to Leigh's family.<BR>
Investigators put their heads together to make the arrests late Friday night. Detective Anthony Reghetti told lead Detective Miguel A. Gauthier that he had dealt with Roberts in the past.<BR>
Investigators went to the cousins' home at 1367 N.W. 33rd Ave., which is behind the store. When they showed the teens Leigh's photo, Roberts said he looked familiar. The detectives took the two teens to the police station for questioning.<BR>
Myers told police that he and Roberts were walking near Western Roundup when they were startled by Leigh, who was sitting on the bench. Myers said Leigh told them to leave him alone. Instead, he said they went home where he grabbed a crowbar and Roberts grabbed a bat.<BR>
Myers said they went back to the store where Roberts hit Leigh "repeatedly with the bat." Myers said he had the crowbar in case Leigh was able to fend off Roberts. He said they went back home. Myers said he grabbed a pocket knife, and both went back to Western Roundup where he stabbed Leigh once. McGowan said Leigh's body did have a superficial wound on the left hip.<BR>
Myers said they returned home again, wrapped the knife in a bandana he was wearing and placed it in a safe inside the residence. The crowbar was placed under a bed in a bedroom, and the bat was buried in the woods not far from the home.<BR>
Detectives obtained a search warrant and the weapons were recovered.<BR>
Authorities said Roberts and Myers admitted to burglarizing several vehicles at Auto Sales, 3308 N.W. Blitchton Rd. on Nov. 27. Officials said several tires were flattened and a blunt object was used to smash windows.<BR>
Hooker said the type of weapon used to smash the car windows were similar to the injuries to Leigh's head.<BR>
In his interview with the Star-Banner, Roberts said he broke car windows at a car dealership nearby and stole blank compact discs. Even though he and his cousin were together, Myers said, he was the one responsible for smashing the car windows and stealing the items inside.<BR>
Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or 352-867-4118.<BR>